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MG MG Y Type - Save this YB!

I don't normally write to the Y series BBS but I do own a YT project car which keeps waiting for its turn. But I just read an ad on the enthusiast classifieds which really concerns me. The ad runs as follows:

"1952 MGYB Body for Sale
I have a complete, original, dent free, rust free silver and black 1952 MGYB. I am keeping the running chassis (everything except the body shell, front and rear fenders,seats, glass, trunk, doors, etc) I am preparing to make a homemade roadster out of the running chassis and I'd hate to see the perfect body on this car go to waste. Asking price $6,000 USD.
Contact: M Arnold Contact by email
San Francisco California USA
Advert placed 12/08/2005 at 06:12:40 (UK time) Category: Y Type"

I cannot imagine what kind of "homemade roadster" this guy is building that requires the sacrifice of a YB saloon, but here I am, 3000 miles away, unable to intervene on behalf of this car. Can somebody on the west coast PLEASE buy it - complete WITH the chassis - and save one of the precious few North American YBs from oblivion.

Thanks,
Allen
Allen Bachelder

I wish I had the money, I'd drive up there and buy it. Doesn't sound like he will sell the complete car anyway and judging by the price for the body it would most likely be expensive if he did.
Steve Simmons

Allen, I can only echo your concerns and the sentiments of Steve. The same thoughts ran through my mind with Shock and Awe that someone could even contemplate this. Having just saved a YT that is going to cost an arm and a leg to put back together the timing was too late as a YB would have completed the garage quite nicely. Hope someone can step in and get the whole car though - if it is that good, it is way too good to make into a hot rod wreck. However, unless it has been driven, people rarely realise just how drivable our Ys are in modern traffic. Mine was just in its element this weekend showing a well tuned 5 speed TD and an MGA just what a SPORTS SALOON is about as I happily drove along at 65mph and would have gone faster (except that I was already 10 over the limit and I know how hot the cops are on that stretch of highway already! Real MGs have 4 doors!!!

Paul
Paul Barrow

Well I've stuck my foot in this one. If I end up having to put my money where my mouth is, I'll have a "heap of 'splainin' to do" on the home-front. But I'm sharing my attempt to at least apply some brakes to this outrageous scheme. My response to the ad is as follows:

"As a YT owner and an avid Y-series enthusiast, may I implore you not to separate this body from this chassis? Can you be convinced to sell the entire car as a whole?

"I applaud your ambition to build a one-off roadster on MG running gear. In that regard, you have shown excellent taste. But as an example, quite frequently on this site or on ebay we see MGA frames advertised which have already been irrevokably separated from their bodies, and which would offer a much more adaptable basis for building such a car. Because they are designed for MGA running gear, they will accept most MGB running gear components. Rover, Ford 302 and Chevy 327 V8s have found their way on to examples of this platform. The possibilities are staggering - and all without sacrificing an irreplaceable car.

"I confess that I'm not a very good candidate for ownership right now: I'm 3000 miles away, and my MG budget and garage space are nicely maxed out. But under pressing circumstances, who knows the extremes to which men of otherwise sound judgement will go. If there is a price at which you would consider selling the complete car, please let me know. Armed with that information I'll need to investigate whatever financial avenues are open to me.

"Thank you very much for considering this.

Best regards,
Allen Bachelder
New Castle VA
bachldrs@pemtel.net"

I'll keep this list posted on my progress. In the meantime, if anybody else is interested, DO NOT fear that you might be undercutting me if you indicate your interest. My only concern is that the car be saved. I probably cannot do it myself; I'm only hoping to stall the process until one of us (myself included - but only if necessary - and perhaps not even then) might come forward.

Wish me luck!
Allen
Allen Bachelder

Hi Allen,

I think you are doing a very noble thing,and frankly, if the body is as good as he say, and the chassis & running gear are in similar shape, I dont think you will have any regrets.

Rebuilding my YT will be an up hill struggle - the tub came from one car and the chassis from another, but when I am done - it will be whole again. I doubt you will encounter that much difficulty.

I applaud your intentions and forthright approach to the seller. Worst case scenario - please get the chassis number and body number from him too for our records on the Register so that we can record what happened to the car.

Thanks

Paul
Paul Barrow

Allen, have you received any response from the seller?
Mark Weissman

Paul,
Thanks for your kind and supporting comments.

Mark,
No I haven't heard from the seller. If I do, I'll share it with the list. I really hope I get at least an earnest response - even if it's not the answer I want.

My YT has been waiting for years while I tackle much easier restorations. Having finished my B/GT, I'm now getting on my ZB Magnette. Then the MGA, followed by the YT. Problem is the YT has some rust perforation in the sills where the compound curves are. I have to learn how to make replacement pieces I can weld in. The new sills I bought from NTG a few years ago are worthless. Strange thing: lots of other parts I've bought from NTG, including panels for my Farina Magnette, are fine. But not these.

Allen
Allen

This thread was discussed between 22/08/2005 and 25/08/2005

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